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NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — The Yankees aren’t sugarcoating anything when it comes to Mark Teixeira’s injury.

They’re legitimately worried.

The first baseman was supposed to be in the lineup for the United States in a World Baseball Classic exhibition against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, but was scratched due to a strained right wrist.

Teixeira underwent an MRI which revealed the strain. He was to head back to New York with team doctors to have the wrist looked at by a hand specialist on Wednesday, WFAN’s Sweeny Murti reported.

“He’s down for a minimum of two weeks,” Cashman said. “He’s going up to New York to see a hand specialist [Dr. Melvin Rosenwasser]. I’m obviously worried about it, because wrists are very unpredictable. Even if you can get a positive diagnosis back — which, of course, I’m going to hope for — that still doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods, because wrists are tricky.

“They’re hard to get a handle on, so I’m concerned about it. This could be something that’s even if it plays out not serious, it could play out longer than anyone could want, regardless. I’m not going to sugarcoat it … Our history of stuff like that, it’s concerning.”

If the two-time All-Star is out for an extended period of time, who will replace him at first base?

“That’s something we would have to look at,’’ Girardi said. “We have a number of guys that have played there. Juan Rivera has played there, Dan Johnson has played there. (Kevin Youkilis) has played there. There are a number of things you could possibly do.’’

After pulling out of the World Baseball Classic on Tuesday, the five-time Gold Glove Award winner tweeted: “Very disappointed to miss @WBCBaseball. Best of luck to my teammates, go #USA!”

First baseman Eric Hosmer of the Kansas City Royals has been added to the roster to replace Teixeira.

The 32-year-old batted .251 with 24 homers and 84 RBIs in 123 games for New York in 2012.

If Tex is out for an extended period of time, who plays first base for the Bombers? Sound off with your thoughts and comments below…